Reducing skin tone inequities in chronic venous insufficiency
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Reducing health inequities through improved guidance and assessment on the early identification of skin changes associated with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) in people with dark skin tones
IRAS ID
350871
Contact name
Victoria Clemett
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King' College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
The majority of leg ulcers develop due to poor circulation in the veins (venous leg ulcers). This affects 560 thousand adults per year in the UK. The majority of venous ulcers heal in a year taking on average three months, but 47% of venous leg ulcers take longer than a year to heal. After wounds heal, they often reoccur. Venous leg ulcers cost the NHS an estimated £4.2 million per year. Leg ulcers can be painful, itchy and give off an unpleasant smell. Leading patients to be less able to look after themselves, feeling a sense of self consciousness and less willing to go out.
Before a wound appears, there are skin changes that show someone has increased pressure in their veins caused by weak or damaged valves. If these skin changes are spotted early circulation can be improved before a leg ulcer begins. When wounds occur, they heal quicker if skin changes are recognised quickly to help identify the cause of the wound and the right treatment started.
However, there are concerns these signs are being missed in people with dark skin tones, leading to delayed diagnosis and patients not seeing specialist tissue viability and vascular services early enough. This results in delayed or ineffective treatments, prolonged suffering, poorer healing rates and higher treatment costs.
This project aims to reduce health inequities by improving the assessment and identification of venous disease in people with dark skin tones.
This research will explore current practice and inform future research projects on the recognition of skin changes associated with venous disease in people with dark skin tones.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EE/0091
Date of REC Opinion
14 May 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion